Elements and Principles of

Art

Elements of Art• Elements of art are

the building blocks from which a piece of art is made; thealphabet of the visual world.

Elements of Art• Line • Shape • Form • Value • Color • Texture • Space

Line• A mark made by a

pointed tool. • Can be long,

short, straight, curved, thick,thin, etc.

• Lines can be organic (round, found in nature) or geometric. (created by man)

Shape• An area enclosed

by a line. They can be geometric or organic, large or small, simple or complex, etc.

Form• Forms differ from

shapes in that they are three-dimensional. Like shapes, they can be geometric or organic.

Value• Light to Dark and all

the shades in-between.

• Value creates the illusion of 3-Dimensions in paintings and drawings.

• Here we can see how value creates the illusion of dimension on a flat surface.

Value• Value creates

the illusion of space to paintings and drawings.

• In this artwork it gives a sense of space as it gets lighter as it recedes into the distance.

Color• Colors are the

hues in the artwork – red, blue, yellow, etc.

• Color has Value, how light or dark it is.

• Color has Intensity, how bright or dull it is.

Color• Color can be

divided by warm (reds, yellows and oranges, or cool (blues and greens).

Color• Complementary

Colors are across from each other on the color wheel, and can create visual interest, and emphasis.

• Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel, they go well together and create a sense of peacefulness or unity.

Texture• Texture is the feel

or look of the surface – rough, smooth, grainy, lumpy, etc.

• Textures can be actual or implied.

• Texture can add visual interest, or variety to art.

Space• Space is often

separated into Positive or Negative space. The object in a composition is referred to as Positive Space, and the space surrounding it is referred to as Negative Space.

Space• The illusion of

space can be created through

• Overlapping • Size • Value • Vanishing Point • Placement along

horizon line

Principles of Art

Principles of Art• Balance • Movement • Rhythm • Contrast • Emphasis • Pattern • Variety • Unity

Balance• The distribution of

visual weight by the arrangement of elements; balance may be symmetrical (formal) or asymmetrical (informal)

Movement• The visual path

that a viewer’s eyes follow across a work of art, also the implied movement of lines: horizontal (calm/still), vertical (strong) and diagonal (action).

Rhythm• The repetition of

elements in a work of art; rhythm and movement work together to create a visual beat.

Pattern• Planned or

random repetitions of elements which help to create rhythm and unity in a piece of art.

Contrast• The arrangement

of opposite, or different elements in close proximity to create interest.

Emphasis• Used when an

element is given dominance, making it stand out.

Variety• An assortment of

lines, shapes, colors and other elements of art that create interest in a piece of artwork.

Unity• The individual

elements that work together to create harmony in a piece of art. When it is achieved the artwork feels and looks finished.